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Chai

Servings 2

Equipment

  • 3 or 4 qt. pot

Ingredients

  • 10 oz water
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 4 whole green cardamom pods cracked
  • 4 whole black peppercorns
  • ½ cinnamon stick
  • 2 slices of fresh ginger root
  • ¼ tsp black tea
  • ½ c whole cow's milk or milk substitute

Instructions

  • Bring the water to a boil and add the spices. 
  • Cover and boil 15 to 20 minutes, then add the black tea.
  • Let sit for a few minutes, then add the milk and return to a boil. Avoid letting it boil over. 
  • When the chai reaches a boil, remove it immediately from the heat and strain. 
  • Sweeten with maple syrup, if desired, and enjoy.

Notes

Chai is health-promoting, delicious, soothing, and a great coffee substitute. It is also a good digestive aid. The benefits of Chai would fill pages. In the science of yogic foods the spices used are said to have the following properties:
  • Black pepper: blood purifier, digestive aid
  • Cardamom pods: digestive aid 
  • Cloves: beneficial to the nervous system, digestive aid
  • Cinnamon: strengthens the bones, digestive aid, demulcent 
  • Ginger root: healing for colds and flu, increases energy, digestive aid